Insulated rail joint.



PATBNTED 00T. 15, 190'?.v

B. WOLHAUPTBB. INSULATED RAIL JoINT.

LPPLIUATI'ON FI'LED DEU. 3. 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

dg [2u-W! j' PATBNTBD 00T. 15,' 1907.

B. WGLHAUPTER. INSULATBD RAIL JOINT.

S-BEEBT 2.

APPLIUATION FILED DBO- 3. 190B.

SHEET BENJAMIN WOLHAUPTER, Oli NEW YORK, Ni Y.7 SSIGNOR TO OF NEW YORK, N. Y., COPORATION Ol" THE RAIL JOINT COMPANY, NEW YORK.

INSULATED RAIL-J OIN T.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15, 1907.

frpplicatiomfiled December 8, 1906'. Serial No. 346,151.

To all whom it 'may concern:l

Be it known that l, BENJAMIN WOLHAUPTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in l the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain newand useful lImprovementsinlnsulated Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification. l

This invention relates to rail joints of the insulated type. 1

A special object of the invention is to provide certain new and practical improvements in :in insulated rail -joint embodying in its organization a base support and base insulation, and an auxiliary side bridging rail performing the functions of a reinforce or girder member lor the joint, and also acting in the capacity of a carrying rail receiving the tread ofthe car wheels when pass! ing the jouit between the servlce ralls. 1n connection with these characteristic features of the joint structure,

the invention contemplates means vghich provide aV broad and firm base support for the service rails. and at. i the same time securing a thorough and complete base insulation therefor which is entirely relieved from the load orweight ofthe passing trains.

A further object of the inventionis'to provide a novel and practical construction. of rail shoe wherein one piece of metal is utilized for beth the side carrying rail and the base support for the running rail.

Furthermore. the invention contemplates a novel design of side bridging rail which provides a. complete clearance for worn car wheels so as to obviate the haininer blows produced by the raised tread or tread portionsofsuohwheels.

Another object of the invention is to providea novel design of rail head for the side bridging rail which not only provides for complete clearance for the projecting or raised tread portions o1' worn car wheels, but also is formed, (next to the top insulating strip between the ruiming rail and bridging rail heads) with a spreadcompensating surface which leaves a sufficiently .rcll defined space to ncconnnodat'e and receive the spread or vflow of the niet al from the head of the auxiliary side rail. This obviates the possibility of the inet-.1l from the side ruil head llowing into metallic contact with the running or service rails thereby causing short circuiting. .Y .ln carrying out that phase of the invention which involves ine-ans for entirely relieving the base insulation from the load.'theiiwention has in view the provision of an effectively d csigned and formed auxiliary bridging rail which serves as a. girdcr to strongly reinforce the joint parts, and also presents a `carrying head which receives and supports the. car wheels in passing the joint. thereby protecting the cuds oi' the scrvicc rails from the damage which results from Vthc hammering of the wheels over the ordinary types of joints.

with a reinforcingr In addition to the foregoing objects, land the general object of providing a joint thoroughly insulated rand reinforced throughout, the invention has for a. distinctive .tbjetaf the characterizing function of providing the joiiit-proper with definite and positive means for deterini/ning and fixing the relative height of the running and theauxiliary side bridgingrails, wherebythe height of said auxiliary rail may be ad j ust-ed to the-level o1' the service or running rails to compensate for the 'varying heights of traffic-worn rail ends in the application of the improved rail joint to old rails, or to new rails of different heights; This enables the joint purchaser toV accurately adjust and set up the joint parts to satisf y the exact conditions to be niet. j

With these and many other objects in view, which will nrore readily appear as the nature' of the invention is better understood, the saine consists in the novel construction, combination. and arrangement of parl-s hereinafter more fully described. illustrated; and claimed.

The essential features of the invention involved in carrying out the objects above indicated are necessarily .susceptible to awide range of structural modification,

but for the purpose otexemplii'ying the improvement-s claimed` a. few of the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional perspective view of a rail joint embodying the present invention, and showing one means of providing for the relative vertical adj ustlnent of the auxiliary side rail. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional 85 view of the joint between bolts, showing another inediiication in the means for effecting the relative height adjustinentpf the auxiliary side rail. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing another modification of the invention.

Fig. et is a projected plan view of the section of rail 9() joint shown in Fig. 3 illustrating a forln of fastening means that may he utilized in connection with adjusting .wedges Fig. is a cross sectional view of another forni of joint embodying th e invention and also illustrating another modification in the means for effecting the relative height adjustment of the auxiliary side rail. Like references designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings. v

While the present invention is susceptible to embodiment in a variety of joint structures and is capable of general application as an insulated rail joint, still, in all forms the saine characteristic and distinguishing'ieatures are preserved, such features being the general design of the joint shoe or chair whereby an effective base support is provided for thejoint in connection girdcr acting in the capacity of a bridging rail, and the provision ot definite and positive means for adjusting and fixing the relative height ofthe l auxiliary side bridging rail. These combinations are well exemplified by the simple and practical -forni of joint shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, in lwhich l-l designate the adjoining service rail ends between which is interposed the usual insulating end post 2 auhserving the usual functions. of that' element in an insulated rail' joint. As-shown in the ligure of the drawings referred to, the rail 'joint'proper includes in its organization a joint shoe Yolvjchair designated in its entirety by the numeral 3, angl* essentially consisting of a metallic base plate 4, andan upright auxiliary rail member 5 supported and carried by the base plate at one side edge thereof so as to locate the said rail member at one side of the service rail ends. The metallic base plate 4 is of greater 4width than the service rail bases and extends beneath and across the joint between ,the same so asto constitute a .wide and effective rail supporting base which subserves the important functions of maintaining a firm and substantially nnyielding base for the railsto.

maintain the alinexnent of continuity thereof. ln the -form of the invention being described, the rail supjporting base or base plate-4 and the auxiliary side rail member 5 are integrated so as te form integral partsof Vthe Pshoe or chair, and by reason of the rigid or integral .connection between the auxiliary rail member and the base plate 4,' `it will be obvious that the said rail member serves as 'a reinforcing or strengthening girder which stiffens and strengthens the entire joint, while at the saine time embodying means for supporting and carrying the car wheels over and past 'the jointbetween Vthe service rails. To `secure thisrlatter function in the ,most effective manner, the auxiliary side bridging rail member 5 is designed so as to be rolled 'at its upper edge Ywitlrwhat may be termed `an inwardly@- and laterally deflected carrying head 6, usually disposed obliqueto the vertical plane' of the upright web of the member 5,

and formed alongl its upper and inner edge, nextto the service rail. ends, with a runnng or at surface 7 which is disposed in such proximity and parallelism. to the service rails as to receive and carry the tread ,of the car Wheels whenthe train is passing the joint. This provides means whereby the load is borne by the auxiliary rail or rail member 5 and base 4. v

One of the practical features of the present invention resides in the special design or lform of the side rail head G. This rail head is preferably formed on-the outer side thereof with a beveled or inclined clearance face 'which slopes downwardly rorn the -lmain running or ."at'eurface 7 so esl to afford a complete lclearance for worn carwheelam ,H v

As plainly indicated by the dottedlines in Fig. 2 of the drawings, ther'eflerence letter G designates a portion of a car wheel whichhas become badly grooved or worn,

as is commonrto'thewheels of, shifting or yard engines point, with a longitudinal bevel or r-.ut away portion designated by the reference character 7". This bev el ing or cutting away of the inner edge ofthe running surlace 7 of the head 6 may assume different forms and Shapes, but in all forms necessarily provides a well deined space, next tothe insulation between the side and service rail heads, which accolmnriidates und receives the spread or lowof the metal from the head of the auxiliary side rail. i'lence, the said element 7" constitutes a sj'lroad-coiupenHating surface which obviates the possibility ol the metal from the side rail head flowingY into\ metallic Contact with the service rail heads thereby' causing an electrical colmeeton between the ends ol ils above indicated, un important feature of the iuvention resides in the provision of nie-ans for adjusting the relative heightef the auxiliary side rail member and the servir-e rail', that is, to providemeans for briug- Ving the said side rail to the level of the service or ruuning,T rails() that the joints, when constructed, can be i made up so as to compensate for the varying heights of `trallic-worn rail ends in the application of the joint to old rails. ln the construction shown in Fig. l, this adjustment muy be effected by providing the rail supporting buse ,4 on its upper side with an inclined laearing luce 8 with which engages the complemental in clined hearing.,r face l) of an adjusting wedge 10 which is interposed between the rail base ,ll and the rall support ingl base or base 'plate 4. The said adjusting wedge l() is shown as consisting of a sheet of insulation, but such iusulationmay consist of a thick wedge of woodvor other material.` The same serves as the base insulation for the joint, and after adjusting the said wedge l() over the base plate to secure the proper relative height adjpstment ofthe auxiliary rail 5 in relation to the service .I rail Vl,^thc said wedge, if made of thin llexible iusulation, is formed at one edge with an upturued fastening flange or lip 12 which is designed to he clamped betweenone edge of the base flange lll of the ruil and the 'inner angle of `the joint shoe or chair 51, with lthe object in view of holding said wedge from displacement.

To complete the insulation of the form ol' joint justl described au insulating strip 13 is interposed between the service rail ends and the carrying head li of the auxiliary rail, vand the jointmay he completed by arranging upon opposite vsides of the service nail. ends the iller blocks 14 and land connecting,r the parts together with joint bolts lo..V 'These boltsA l6 are shown as being,r

eqliipped at the inner sides of their heads and nutswith the metal backing washers 1G, the' nsula'txug,r washers lo" next to the metal washers, `and withthe insulating 'sleeves onbushings lo? extending through the holt holes in the auxiliary side rail, and in the metal strap t) usually arranged upon the side of the lillerV block 14 opposite the liller'block 1.5, ,l'lhis completes an insur lated joint somewhat 'on the general lines ol' lhe well known Weber type of insulated rail joint, Vwhile at the same time ser-urine; the added functions herein pointed out.

Referring to another form of the invention shown in Fig. 2', the height adjustment of the auxiliary bridging rail 5 may b'e provided for hy employing a nietallie'adf justirLg wedge lor wedge plate 17 placed upon the upper inclined surface of the base orh'base plate-A4, and after '-in such position by a fastening screw or'equivalent def vice 18 passed through'the base plateaiii engaging4 in a or .Wodge'plate 17.

threaded socket or mortise provided in the said wedge In this construction the base insu'- lation is provided for by interposing a base insulating shi et 19 between the horizontal upperace ofthe wedge i7 and the bottoni of the rail base 11. This modification also suggents a construction wherein the filler block may be omitted between the `service rails and the auxiliary side rail. I

Another variation in the adjusting means for varying the height of the auxiliary side rail 5 is shown in Fig. 3.

of the drawings, and consists in providing the rail supporting 'base 4 With a horizontal top bearing face 20 upon which is arranged a pair oi overlapping matching, and reverse] y related, adjust-'ing wedges 21, the upper one oi which presents a horizontal top rest surface 22 loi" the rail base. These Wedges 2l are also preferably made oi insulating material so as to constitute a base insulation", audafter adjust-nient are held fast to the buse plate 4 by niean` oi the fastening serewor bolt 23 passing through l;i'.u-.versely disposed adj ustinent slot-s 24 in the two wedges near one edge thereoil and engaging in the threaded opening in the base plate 4. A niodilieatio'n. of this eonstru etio'n is possi ble by using one wedge oi inotal and one of insulation:

The modification shown in l" ig. 5 involves the thought ol providing the base plate 4; with the inclined bearing surface 8, previously referred lo, and adjusting thereon a metallic Wedge plaie 25 held fast in its adjusted position through the] inediuin of rivets 2G secured in the base plate 4'. 'lhe wedge or wedge plate 25 presents a hori- '/.ont al top rest surl'aee 2(3L upon which is placed a base insulating sheet i'Z7 provided at one edge with an upturned fastening or holding flange 28 held between 'the ruil member 5 and the iller block 15. (')ther modifie-ations will readily suggest vthemselves to those skilled in the art and it willbe understood that any changes iir the forni, proportion, and minor details of construction may lie resorted towthout departing freni the spiritor sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. It will'be further understood that in all lornis oi' the jointtlie usual and necessary bolts', washers, and b olt insulation will be utilized .in the usual and neces-nary places to provide lor securing the joint tothe track rails.

l elainv-4 l l. In an insulated rail joint, the service-rails;annuitiliary side rail bridging the joint. ineausj n/eath the rail bases l'or relatively :uljustln the -height of-itlie nuxlllni'y ruil und service rails, und iusulutiiig means. y(

' 2. ln un insulated rail joint, /the service ralls, a rail joint ion eoniprisiin,r a ruil snpporting'biise und an auxiliary side-ruil,` ineens, l'oeuted between the Suid supporting-buse and -servico rn'IVhnses, for adjusting. the height: ot the uuxillary rail relative to tlieservire rails. ineens [or maintaining said relative adjustment, und inA sulntingnieans.

I l. lu an insulated rail joint, the service rails, n ruil joint. serlion having i base plate und an auxiliary side ruil intel-:1l with snd'plate, means Ior :idjustlng the -luiiiht ol' lllo auxiliary ruil relative to the servlce rails,

:und insulating means.

4. -ln un insulated ruil jolnt, the service rails. a joint. shoe roinprislng u inetnllie hase plaie und un upstundlin,r

`auxillary ruil integral with said plate, adjusting means between the base plate and the rail bases for adjusting the height of the auxiliary rail relative t0 the service rails, and insulating means,

5. In in insulated rail joint, the service rails, a joint shoe comprising a'ineiallle base plate and an opstanding auxiliary side rail integral with said plate, and insulation between the shoe and the service rails.

G. In :in insulated rail joint, the service rails, a joint shoe comprising a brise plate sind an opstanding auxiliary sido rail integral with Said base plate and provided at its upper end with an inwardly and laterally doliected carrying head bridging the joint und arranged to carry tbe' wheels thereover, and insulation between the nervice rails und the shoe.

T. In an insulated rail joint, the service rails. a joint chairhavini: u buse plntennd n rigid upstandinn auxiliary side ril bridging the joint. wedge adju inn' :nouns for adjusting the itive height of the auxiliary ruil and means For insulating' one rail from the other.

ln un in ulated ruil joint, the service rails, a joint chair having` :l hase plate and a rigid opstanding auxiliary side rail, u'edgr iu'ljnstinf: menus iur adjusting the relative height' ol.' the side rail, fastening means for Said wedge adjusting menusI und in euns for insulating one rail from the other.

9. ln an insulated rail joint, the servir-e rails, a joint shoe having a buse plate and :1n upstandlng auxiliary side rail. an adjustment. wedge located between said base plate jnstlnent wedge and ineens for insulating one rail from.

the other.

1.1. In 'nn insulated ruil joint, the service rails. :l joint shoe havinj.; n buse plate and an upstundiny; uuxiliuryside rail, said base pluie being provided al.' its upper side with ai luf-lined hearing Ines, wedge adjusting' ineens coperating with sold inclined hearing face and means lor insulating onev rnilfroni the other.

12. lu un insulated rail joint, the service rails, n joint shoe having a buse plate und n n opstanding auxiliary side rail, said bose plate being' provided ai' its upper side with an inclined bearing tn ee. wedge ndjuslii menus coperat:y

ing willi said ini-lined bearing' l'uee, fastening nieuus i'or .said wedge adjusting' inenns and ineensl for ii'isulai'ing one rail roin the other.

' 13. In an insulated joint. the s having n metallic buse pluto, und an upsta'nding nuxiliury side rail, saidv base plate being,r provided at its upper sido with an inclined hearing l'aee. an adjusting wedge adjust:- ably titted upon sind bearing face. fastening 'means for securing,r said wedge in its adjusted position, und insulaiion interponer] between the wedge and the rail-base.

1.4. AIn an insulated rail joint, the servie@ rails, an auxllinry/side rail having n continuous clearance face .for

worn car Wheels, and insulating means.

1V. in un insulated rail joint', the combination of ih e- Service rails, un auxiliary side' ruil. und insulation intel'- posed between the heads of said servie'e and side rails, said side raile having :i carrying bead constructed ut one side with n top edge portion arranged at oneside of, and spaced frein, `the adjacent"insulationto accommodate ,the spread or tlow of the auxiliuryrail head.

Intestiniony whereot hereunto atiix in v signature ln 'the present-eel two witnesses.

ll l'lNllA Ml N WQIJHA Ll UTER.

Witnesses: i

KivriiniuNi-i MeNALLr.

l'l. l?. Heiinniiicunoim.

iro 

